The Health November 2020 | Page 6

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The Health | November , 2020

| Local News |

Cardiovascular diseases , diabetes and cancer causes RM9 billion loss to economy

A report from the Ministry of Health ( MoH ) Malaysia and the World Health Organization ( WHO ) reveals that Non-Communicable Diseases ( NCD ), particularly cardiovascular diseases , diabetes and cancer , cost the Malaysian economy upwards of RM8.91 billion or about 0.65 per cent of the country ’ s Gross Domestic Product ( GDP ).
The economic cost was estimated from the productivity losses due to absenteeism , presenteeism in the workplace and the premature death of the working age population in Malaysia .
Aside from productivity losses , NCDs also place a serious health burden to countries resulting from disability and loss of healthy life years , called the burden of disease costs . This is an intangible cost that is estimated to be around RM100.79 billion , equivalent to 7.35 per cent of GDP .
The report released in Sept is on The Impact of Noncommunicable Diseases and Their Risk Factors on Malaysia ’ s Gross
Domestic Product , utilised data from the year 2017 . The latest National Health and Morbidity Survey 2019 shows that the prevalence of NCDs in Malaysia continues to rise .
“ Economic evaluations of NCDs allow us to understand how these diseases shape the life of our people ,” said Tan Sri Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah , Director General of Health .
“ NCDs are often associated with healthcare costs , but evidence such as this shows us hhow NCDs hamper the social and economic development of our country .” “ Every disability and premature death from non-communicable diseases is tragic because we know they are preventable ,” said Dr Lo Ying-Ru , WHO Representative in Malaysia . “ If we are unable to manage NCDs in the country , it will result in significant impact to health and economy .
“ We need a whole-of-government and whole-of- society approach so we can turn the tide on NCDs and save lives and livelihoods .”
Tobacco use , unhealthy diet , harmful use of alcohol and physical inactivity are modifiable behavioural risk factors that increase the risk of NCDs . In the report , unhealthy diet contributed to two-third ( 68.9 per cent ) of the costs of lost productivity due to premature deaths from cardiovascular diseases ( CVDs ) while tobacco use contributed to more than one-third ( 36.9 per cent ) of losses .
Tobacco use also contributed to the highest proportion of the losses from cancer ( 15 per cent ). Member States recognized the importance of tackling NCDs to achieve sustainable development . The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development called for the reduction of premature mortality from NCDs by one-third through prevention and control measures .
The Malaysian Government has taken on this challenge by implementing the National Strategic Plan for Non- Communicable Disease 2016-2025 as well as associated national strategies and plans aiming at reducing risk factors for NCDs . — The Health

Malaysia ’ s first one-stop healthcare lifestyle mall

LifeCare Property ( SS2 ) Sdn Bhd , a subsidiary of private medical care operator LifeCare Diagnostic Medical Centre has bought SS2 Mall from DK-MY Properties Sdn Bhd . It will be revitalised into Malaysia ’ s first one-stop healthcare lifestyle mall .
The new LifeCare DK mall mall will provide professional and affordable medical solutions for everyone and will house more than a dozen specialties . This is in addition to the holistic healthcare services , including primary and specialist care .
A signing was held between Dr Ong Kee Liang , Managing Director of LifeCare Diagnostic Medical Centre Sdn Bhd and Mr Danny Koek , Managing Director of DK-MY Properties Sdn Bhd .
Refurbishment works are being carried out and the amll is expected to open its doors to the community by mid-2021 . The fully operational LifeCare DK mall is projected to house a Urology and Nephrology Hospital with 20-bedded wards , operating theatres the latest equipment ,
Dr Ong Kee Liang ( right ) and Danny Koek Tiang Kung ( left ).
a rehabilitation and physiotherapy hub , a aged care centre and advanced diagnostic imaging department .
In the pipeline are plans to engage vendors to occupy retail lots within the mall to offer complementary products and services to customers , such as Traditional Chinese Medicine and chiropractic services . Managing Director of LifeCare , Dr Ong Kee Liang said , “ We are bringing the forefront of medicine into the local and global community . “
DK-MY Properties aims to introduce two residential blocks in conjunction with the
launch of LifeCare DK Mall . It will develop senior housing community models which offer Independent Living , Assisted Living and Memory Care to improve connections between generations and create a harmonious living environment .
“ Being people orientated is our philosophy that we carry forward into our developments . Within DK-MY Properties Sdn Bhd , we practice a people-centered approach and implement this throughout the organization ”, said Danny Koek , Managing Director of DK Properties . — The Health